Video DownloadHelper is a famous online media download extension for Firefox. It's an easy and free way to extract online content effortlessly. However, since Firefox updates frequently, Video DownloadHelper might be incompatible with your Firefox browser and stop working. This article shares the technique to fix 'DownloadHelper Not Working' problem. If necessary, you can also try the best DownloadHelper alternative - iSkysoft iTube Studio to download YouTube video for totally free.

Part 1. Solutions to Repair DownloadHelper Addon

Most reasons that result in DownloadHelper not working might be the compatibility problem. Therefore, the following solutions deserve a try:

Solution #1. Re-install DownloadHelper

By default, Firefox will update your addons automatically. But this might cause compatibility issues. If the addon works well, why update it? So if DownloadHelper doesn't work, re-install it to an older version might work. Get older version of DownloadHelper here: https://addons.mozilla.org/zh-CN/firefox/addon/video-downloadhelper/versions/.

Differently, if your Firefox version is too old, DownloadHelper might also not work. My suggestion is using the latest Firefox. Here comes the program. How to disable the auto-addon-update feature of Firefox? Actually, Firefox use Addon Manager to manage your addons. Open it by Firefox > Addons > Addon Manager and turn Automatic Updates off.

Solution #2. Make Sure DownloadHelper Not Working Is True

Sometimes, you might find out DownloadHelper doesn't download MP4 video. I have to say, this is not the problem of DownloadHelper. If the video website doesn't provide MP4 video source, DownloadHelper naturally can't download video to MP4 format. DownloadHelper just downloads what's provided. In such case, you need a video downloader and converter like iSkysoft iTube Studio.

Solution #3. Restart Firefox or Computer

No reason, just do it and DownloadHelper not working issues might be fixed automatically. Good luck!

Part 2. How to Download Videos Using the Best Alternative to DownloadHelper

iSkysoft iTube Studio for Mac can download video from 1000+ YouTube-like video sharing sites. You can download any video you like, save YouTube to MP3, or download the whole YouTube playlist with only one click. Batch downloading is supported.

Plus, it is clearly much more than a video downloader. You can simply use it to convert any downloaded or local FLV/MP4 videos to other video and audio formats as you wish. You can also convert video directly to your mobile devices compatible format to enjoy on the go. iTube Studio supports Mac OS X 10.6 or later (including 10.10 Yosemite) and is compatible with Firefox, Safari and Chrome. Download it for a free trial now.

As a DownloadHelper alternative, iSkysoft iTube Studio is extremely easy to use yet powerful. See how to download online video with iSkysoft iTube Studio step by step, and convert to any format you want.

What You Will Need:

A Computer;
iSkysoft iTube Studio for Mac

Time Required:

Around 3 mins (Variable depending on the video file size)

Difficulty:

Easy

Step 1: Install Firefox Addon

Like DownloadHelper, iSkysoft iTube Studio will also install a download addon into your Firefox browser. When done, a download button will be added to any supported video while you're playing them, similar to Video DownloadHelper's rotating icon. Better than DownloadHelper, iTube Studio also supports Internet Explorer and Chrome besides Firefox.

Step 2: One Click to Download YouTube Video

With iTube Studio correctly installed, You can visit sites like YouTube.com like before to play the video you want to download. When the Download button appears at the top left corner of the video. Click it to download video to its original format, usually FLV and sometime MP4. So far, iTube Studio provides the same features as DownloadHelper.

More ways to download video: You can also directly click the Paste URL to download video via URL, or drag and drop the URL to the program interface to start downloading YouTube video.

Step 3: Convert Video to Other Format Easily

After the video is downloaded, go to the Downloaded tab, and click the Convert on the right side of each video. In the slide down window, choose the format you want to convert to. Easy enough! Moreover, If an Apple device like iPad is chosen, and the option "Export to iTunes" has been checked, the converted video will be added to iTunes library automatically so you're able to sync to your Apple device conveniently with iTunes.

brain_fisher
Sorry for the inconvenience. For this case, would you please have a try to uninstall the program and disable the extension, and then reinstall the program to set the download extension on your browser again? Any other question, please let us know.

Melissa
The plugin is now broken and won't even download MP4 files from YouTube. All other options demand a lame converter is used.
Avoid. Dump this plugin/add-on and look for something that this used to be. The best stream capturing add-on for Firefox there ever was. Now it's just a pile of junk.

FF user
yeah recently download helper does not work for me too, I am using last Firefox 36.0.4 and download helper 5.0.1 and when I try to download videos from some sites I just get some empty 5,6kb file....from sites that I did not have problems at the previous versions of the add !
It is so funny when things are getting updated and proven but they do not work HAHAHAHHA....and Firefox eats all my RAM

WebSoldier4
This was awesome until it stopped working and everything above does now fix it. Argh not happy did they just patch it with a bad patch????

yahoo-LHAXLMSYVPBUAF75ZTUVMBRL
iSkysoft iTube Studio software is totally free to download YouTube videos and it is available for mac and windows version.
thanx for the tutorial.

google-5bbf952c73c587e33e71913
Wow the firefox addon is awesome and yeah till now iam not aware of that add on... loving it

maazvictory
Well the best thing which is liked in iskysoft software is iTube Studio can download video from 100 YouTube like video sharing sites. Isn\'t it cool only one software can be very useful for all downloads stuff.